I nudged Vex’s ribs with my boot. No reaction.
Just to be sure, I crouched and pressed two fingers to his throat. His pulse thrummed weakly but steadily beneath clammy skin.
Unconscious, not dead.
I still had some questions that I wanted to ask him.
My legs gave out. I collapsed onto my backside, the damp grass cool against my palms as I sucked in ragged breaths. The adrenaline that had kept me moving now receded like a tide, leaving behind a body that ached in places I didn’t know could ache.
The realization settled over me slowly, seeping into my bones like the evening dew.
Around us, the battlefield told the story—splintered trees, gouged earth, the metallic tang of blood lingering in the air. And at the center of it all, the unconscious form of a man who’d tried very hard to kill me.
A faint smile tugged at my lips.
I did it. With my own strength. No help. No Ultimates.
Just me, my daggers, my skills, and the White Lotus Style I’d secretly clawed my way into mastering.
But recalling the fight, my smile turned wry.
Next time, I’ll just knock them out at the start.
Because a life and death battle was both exhausting and nerve-wracking.
I let myself flop onto my back, limbs splayed like a starfish, and stared up at the sky. The canopy above was thin here, shredded by our clash, and through the gaps, the moon hung bright and indifferent. Stars winked between the branches, their light undimmed by the mess we’d made of the forest.
For a long moment, I just... breathed.
The night air was crisp, carrying the scent of leaves and damp soil. Somewhere in the distance, low-ranking monsters screeched. But they sounded peaceful and normal.
A far cry from the chaos of minutes ago.
I flexed my fingers, watching the faint tremors there. My body was a patchwork of shallow and few deep cuts and blossoming bruises, and the poison—though slowly being purged—had left my muscles feeling like overcooked noodles.
Turtles going to laugh their ass off when they hear about this.
The thought almost made me groan.
But beneath the fatigue, there was something else. A warmth. A quiet pride.
Not just survived—won.
And not by luck, not by some fluke, but by skill.
The White Lotus Style had worked.
My eyelids fluttered shut for a heartbeat.
Just like usual, several message windows flooded my vision.
[Hidden Scenario Completed: Surviving Imminent Death II]
Against all odds, you have survived, once again. But this time—it was no coincidence. No fluke. No unseen hand tipping the scales.
You stood before death’s maw and walked away by your own strength, your own wits, your own unbroken will.
The path ahead remains shrouded in shadow... but you have proven you can walk on it.
- [Aura Coins x 50,000]
- [White Lotus Comprehension +15%]
[Achievement Evolved: Death’s Brush II]
You have stared into the abyss a second time... and this time, the abyss blinked first.
Reward: [Foresight Level Up]
[New Title Earned: The Unseen Bloom]
You are the lotus that thrives unseen in the darkest waters. The world overlooks you—until the moment your petals unfold, and by then, it is too late.
- Sneak attacks deal more damage.
- Your presence is naturally muted; those who underestimate you will continue to do so... until they realize they shouldn’t.
"The quietest roots strangle the mightiest oaks."
A slow, satisfied smile spread across my lips as I read the messages.
Someone was praising me—even if that someone was just a faceless, mechanical voice in my head. Still, it felt... good.
A memory flickered at the edges of my mind—my real first day in this world, waking up to a cold, clinical notification:
[Hidden Scenario Completed: Surviving Imminent Death.]
Back then, I’d barely survived by sheer dumb luck. Now?
I shook my head with a quiet chuckle.
"Although I owe most of it to Virion... I really have grown so much in just two months."
My eyes skimmed the rest of the messages.
[Foresight Level Up] — About damn time.
Now, maybe I’d get more than just vague "danger-tingles" before a knife found my ribs. Or even a permanent night vision is fine. I’m tired of using those glasses, you know.
[The Unseen Bloom] — The world overlooks you—until the moment your petals unfold, and by then, it is too late.
"Sneak attacks? Muted presence?" A wry laugh escaped me. "Hey, System, are you trying to make me an assassin background character?"
Not that I’d complain. Rewards were rewards, no matter how oddly specific.
"Speaking of weird... what is this ’Phantom Twin’?"
As if answering, a new prompt flared to life:
[New Ability Acquired: Phantom Twin]
"Every shadow has a will of its own—if you know how to listen."
Summon a spectral duplicate of yourself.
- Mimics your movements perfectly (no autonomy).
- Can draw aggro (enemies prioritize it 70% of the time).
- Shatters if struck (no combat ability).
Potential: Evolves with use.
"Do not be alarmed if it talks."
I blinked. "A clone? Seriously?"
After fighting Vex and his damn shadow-copies, the irony wasn’t lost on me.
Curious, I focused on the ability—and something shifted in my periphery.
A figure stood beside me.
Same height, same scars, same tired smirk—except this version was slightly translucent, edges blurred like ink in water.
We stared at each other.
"You forgot to turn off the Exorcist’s Gaze, idiot."
We both stared at each other, I was dumbfounded, while the phantom twin also mimicked my expression.
I quickly cancelled the Exorcist’s Gaze, it seems like I really forgot about it.
The moment I canceled it, the Phantom Twin’s form solidified. No more translucency, no blurred edges—just me, standing there in perfect detail down to the fresh cut on my cheekbone.
My breath hitched. "What the-?"
But... How did this guy know it?
I mean, he was just a Stage 1 clone. A mindless mimic, according to the System.
The Twin tilted its head, studying me with an expression I knew all too well—the same calculating glint I got when piecing together a puzzle.
Then it spoke as if to confirm my thoughts.
"Yes, our minds are one."